The Difference Between Distracted Driving & Drunk Driving: Which is More Dangerous?

In the US, an average of 6 million car accidents occur each year. Negligent driving has been identified as the leading cause of car accidents, with drunk and distracted driving leading the charge.

What is Distracted Driving?

Driving is an act that requires and demands a driver’s full attention. Any activity, whether related or unrelated, to the act of driving that pulls that attention away from the road is considered distracted driving. Such activities as eating, drinking, texting, talking on the phone, fixing the navigation system, or fiddling with the radio are all considered distractions and should be avoided while driving.

Causes of Distracted Driving

As mentioned above, causes of distracted driving are those activities that divert the driver’s attention away from the road. These include:

• Talking and texting;
• Fixing and focusing attention on the GPS;
• Setting up driving playlist;
• Controlling the temperature;
• Applying makeup;
• Turning to look at other passengers while talking; 
• Children and pets;
• Focusing on other “interesting” things aside from the road;
• Daydreaming and zoning out.

Types of Distracted Driving

Driving is an activity that requires three things: the driver’s hands at the wheel, his eyes on the road, and his mind focused on navigating the road. All three must be present at all times for complete safety. Anything that stops the driver from either of the three are considered distractions.

Manual Distractions. Anything that stops the driver from putting both his hands on the wheel; these include texting, grabbing something from the glove compartment, or operating the stereo.

Visual Distractions. Anything that takes the driver’s eyes off the road; these can be anything from GPS systems or an incoming text to overly-distracting billboards.

Cognitive Distractions. Anything that stops the driver from focusing on driving; trying to remember a grocery list, emotional stress, and conversations with somebody inside the vehicle are all considered cognitive distractions.

Distracted Driving Risks

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of road accidents according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. They estimate that at least 78% of all crashes and 65% of all near-crashes in the entire country are due to distracted driving. The main reason for this is that drivers have less awareness when distracted, leading to reduced reaction times and an even lesser capacity to react.

Distracted Driving Consequences

Distracted driving has numerous consequences. These include:

• Involvement in accidents. The driver’s diminished capacity to react to people passing by, another driver driving recklessly, or certain road signs makes them more likely to cause or be involved in a serious accident.
• Criminal charges. Distracted driving has been outlawed in many states in the US. Any person that has been caught engaging in distracted driving will incur stiff penalties. Those who get involved in serious accidents due to distracted driving may be charged with a misdemeanor or even a felony, depending on the seriousness of the accident.
• Higher insurance premiums. Incurring multiple penalties from traffic citations can seriously tarnish someone’s driving history, which could lead to higher insurance premiums.
• Lost driving privileges. Drivers that accumulate too many points on their driving record may lead to a suspension of their driver’s license or even have it revoked.

What is Drunk Driving?

Drunk driving is the act of operating a motor vehicle after consuming ample amounts of alcohol. It is more commonly known as driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI). The legal limit for blood alcohol content (BAC) in the United States is 0.08%. BAC levels under the legal limit are permissible by law, although they can still lead to an impaired ability to drive, causing a variety of harmful situations.

Drunk Driving Risks

Alcohol severely impairs an individual’s ability to drive a motor vehicle. As alcohol is consumed, the driver is affected in certain ways, affecting their ability to drive. Alcohol can:

• Impair visual functions;
• Cause difficulty to steer away from danger;
• Reduce muscle coordination;
• Reduce reaction time;
• Reduce ability to concentrate;
• Impair individual’s ability to control vehicle.

Drunk Driving Consequences

Accidents involving drunk drivers often lead to severe injuries. Many of these accidents cause the driver and others involved in the accident to suffer from physical injuries, which may lead to paralysis, disfigurement, brain damage, and most of the time, death.

Every year, 100,000 lives are claimed by accidents involving drunk drivers. Due to the extreme number of casualties each year, the government has imposed strict penalties for incidents involving drunk driving. These include:

• Driver’s license suspension / revocation
• Imprisonment in jail
• Vehicle impoundment
• Vehicle license plate confiscation
• Ignition interlock device (IID) restrictions
• Alcohol abuse evaluations
• Mandatory alcohol abuse treatment programs
• Monitored sobriety

Above all, accidents involving drunk driving often take an emotional toll on the drivers, especially when the accident injures, dismembers, or kills others.

The Difference Between Distracted Driving and Drunk Driving

Is Distracted Driving Worse Than Drunk Driving?

Alcohol severely impairs a driver’s ability to operate a motor vehicle. Over the years, this severe impairment has claimed far too many lives and have caused way too much property damage. In a bid to stop drunk drivers from claiming any more victims, stricter laws have been imposed, which resulted in fewer incidents involving drunk drivers. Meanwhile, distracted drivers are on the upswing. Since distractions are considered less dangerous, and with laws for distracted drivers far less harsh, more and more accidents are bound to happen.

Texting and Driving vs Drunk Driving 

Despite the severity in the consequences of incidents involving drunk drivers, many studies have revealed that texting while driving is worse. In fact, texting while driving has been considered as one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving – six times more dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol. This is due to the fact that 23% lower reaction times were recorded for drivers that were texting and driving compared to drunk driving.

Distracted Driving vs Drunk Driving Statistics

Fatalities

• 10,511 lives were claimed in 2018 in accidents related to alcohol. 
• In the same year, 4,637 deaths were recorded relating to distracted driving.

Economic Impact

• Distracted driving costs the economy $40 billion a year.
• Drunk driving costs $132 billion each year.

Violations by State

• Between 2003 and 2011, the state of Texas recorded the highest number of DUI-related fatalities with 13,138. Illinois was 7th with 3,866.
• The state of Mississippi recorded the highest percentage of driving time spent using their phone with 8.0%. Oregon recorded the lowest percentage with 5.2%. 

Violators by Age Group

• 27% of apprehended drunk drivers in 2017 were between the ages of 21 to 24.

• 15,341 drivers involved in fatal crashes due to cellphone use in 2017 were aged 15 to 29.

Distracted vs Drunk Driving FAQ

What are some distractions while driving?

Pets, food and drinks, and cellphones are all considered distractions while driving.

What are the top 3 distractions while driving?

Cellphone use, eating and drinking, and adjusting audio and climate controls are the top 3 distractions that must be avoided.

Why is texting and driving so bad?

Texting while driving removes a driver’s attention from driving, significantly reducing reaction time.

Can you eat while driving in Illinois?

There is no law under Illinois State Law that explicitly prohibits the consumption of food while driving. However, it is still unsafe behavior and should be avoided.

How much is a distracted driving ticket in Illinois?

Distracted driving in Illinois could cost you $75 on your first offense, $100 for a second offense, $125 for a third offense, and $150 for succeeding offenses.

Is it illegal to be on your phone while driving in Illinois?

Under Illinois State Law, it is prohibited to operate a hand-held phone while driving outside of emergency situations that need to be reported. Any usage within the vehicle must be with the use of a hands-free device.

Can you text at a stop light in Illinois?

Any use of a cellphone while inside a vehicle is generally prohibited under Illinois State Law, even when stopped at a red light. Anyone found using their cellphone will be issued a moving violation.

Stay Protected with Venditti Law Group

Countless incidents of drunk and distracted driving happen on our roads every single day. If you’ve been involved in an accident involving drunken or distracted drivers, give us a call right away to know how you can protect yourself. We are ready to assist you.